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Governor Mike Braun
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Education

Disability Rights and Accommodations

Bullying vs. Discriminatory Harassment

Religious Expression in Schools

Discipline and Discrimination in Schools

What is Education Discrimination?

Students have the right to learn in an environment free from discrimination. Education discrimination occurs when a student is treated differently because of a protected class in school programs, activities, or services.

This may occur in many areas of the school environment, including:

  • Classroom instruction
  • School programs and activities
  • Extracurricular activities
  • Discipline and school policies
  • Access to school facilities and services

Under federal and Indiana civil rights laws, schools may not deny access, provide unequal treatment, or fail to address discrimination based on protected characteristics.

If you believe a student experienced discrimination, there are time limits for filing a complaint. In most cases, a complaint must be filed within 180 days of the alleged discriminatory act.

Filing as soon as possible can help ensure that the complaint can be reviewed.

Protected Classes in Education:

Education discrimination may violate civil rights laws when it is based on a protected class.

Protected classes in education may include:

  • Race
  • Color
  • Religion
  • Sex
  • Disability
  • National origin
  • Ancestry

Schools may not treat students differently because of these characteristics.

Who is Covered?

Education discrimination laws may apply to:

  • Students in public schools
  • Students in certain private schools
  • Parents or guardians acting on behalf of students

These protections help ensure equal access to educational opportunities.

Examples of Education Discrimination:

Education discrimination can take many forms. Examples may include:

  • Denying a student access to programs or activities because of a protected class
  • Failing to address harassment based on a protected class
  • Disciplining students differently based on a protected class
  • Denying reasonable accommodations for a student with a disability
  • Treating students unfairly because of their religion or national origin

Each situation is evaluated based on the specific facts and circumstances.

If You Believe a Student Experienced Discrimination

If you believe a student was treated unfairly because of a protected class, you may be able to file a discrimination complaint.

The Indiana Civil Rights Commission investigates complaints involving discrimination in education, housing, employment, public accommodations, and credit.

To learn more about filing a complaint, visit the How to File a Discrimination Complaint page.